Habitat, Rebuilding Together partner to spruce up Henderson homes

Hundreds of volunteers descended on Henderson's Pittman neighborhood Oct. 24 to spruce up various properties in honor of Make A Difference Day.

Yard cleanup, painting, debris removal and landscape maintenance were conducted at seven homes through a partnership between Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas and Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada. The nonprofits said the partnership was beneficial because their missions and goals are closely aligned.

"It's something we're looking to do more frequently in the future," said Meg Delor, executive director of Habitat for Humanity.

UNLV volunteers also trimmed trees at homes around the neighborhood and helped residents dispose of debris during the event.

Four of the Pittman neighborhood's homes were revitalized as part of the partnership, and Habitat teamed with Wynn Resorts to do three additional homes, as well as repaint Community Baptist Church, 245 E. Foster Ave. The last time the 49-year-old church was painted was in 2000 when it underwent an expansion, said The Rev. Sam Roberson.

Additionally, Rebuilding Together conducted repairs at two southwest Las Vegas homes, one in the Centennial area and one in the east valley. Work included replacing rooftops HVAC systems, property cleanup and painting.

The project in the Pittman neighborhood targeted homes in the 1800 and 1900 blocks of Ward Drive and Merze, Bearden and Allen avenues, said Bob Cleveland, project manager for Rebuilding Together. Low- to moderate-income families making less than 80 percent of the area median income were the beneficiaries.

"It is an older neighborhood, and many of the homes are in an advanced state of disrepair," said Cynthia Baca, executive director of Rebuilding Together.

Habitat for Humanity completed six homes in the neighborhood this year and has acquired four lots near those sites to build an additional four, slated for completion early next year, Delor said. Funds from the city of Henderson's Low Income Housing Trust Fund and its Community Development Block Grant program have helped the nonprofit with the projects. In all, the nonprofit has built about 20 homes in the neighborhood over the years, said Keith Paul, city public information officer.

He said residents there are routinely enthusiastic about working with groups and agencies to improve the appearance of the neighborhood.

"Every time the city has gone out there to organize a neighborhood cleanup, residents have turned out in very high numbers," he said.

Visit lasvegashabitat.org or rtsnv.org.

— To reach Henderson View reporter Cassandra Keenan, email ckeenan@viewnews.com or call 702-383-0278. Find her on Twitter: @CassandraKNews.